Structures and anion-binding properties of M4L6 tetrahedral cage complexes with large central cavities

Reaction of the bis-bidentate bridging ligand L(3), in which two bidentate chelating 3(2-pyridyl)pyrazole units are separated by a 3,3'-biphenyl spacer, with Co(II) salts affords tetranuclear cage complexes of composition [Co(4)(L(3))(6)]X(8)(X =[BF(4)](-), [ClO(4)](-), [PF(6)](-) or I(-)) in which four 6-coordinate Co(II) ions in an approximately tetrahedral array are connected by six bis-bidentate bridging ligands, one spanning each of the six edges of the Co(4) tetrahedron. In every case, X-ray crystallography reveals that the 'apical' Co(II) ion has a fac tris-chelate geometry, whereas the other three Co(II) ions have mer tris-chelate geometries, resulting in (non-crystallographic)C(3) symmetry for the cages; that this structure is retained in solution is confirmed by (1)H NMR spectroscopy of the paramagnetic cages. In every case one of the anions is located inside the central cavity of the cage, with the remaining seven outside. We found no clear evidence for an anion-based templating effect. The cage superstructure is sufficiently large to leave gaps in the centres of the faces through which the internal and external anions can exchange. Variable-temperature (19)F NMR spectroscopy was used to investigate the dynamic behaviour of the cages with X =[BF(4)](-) and [PF(6)](-) in MeCN solution: in both cases two separate signals, corresponding to external and internal anions, are clear at 233 K which have coalesced to a single signal at room temperature. Analysis of the linewidth of the minor signal (for the internal anion) at various temperatures below coalescence gave an activation energy for anion exchange of ca. 50 kJ mol(-1) in each case, a figure which suggests that anion exchange can occur via a conformational rearrangement of the cage superstructure in solution rather than opening of the cavity by cleavage of metal-ligand bonds.     

Role of the A-ring of bryostatin analogues in PKC binding: synthesis and initial biological evaluation of new A-ring-modified bryologs

The syntheses of three newly designed bryostatin analogues are reported. These simplified analogues, which lack the A-ring present in the natural product but possess differing groups at C9, were obtained using a divergent approach from a common intermediate. All three analogues exhibit potent, single-digit nanomolar affinity to protein kinase C.     

Dynamic chirality: keen selection in the face of stereochemical diversity in mechanically bonded compounds

The template-directed syntheses, employing bisparaphenylene-[34]crown-10 (BPP34C10), 1,5-dinaphthoparaphenylene-[36]crown-10 (1/5NPPP36C10), and 1,5-dinaphtho-[38]crown-10 (1/5DNP38C10) as templates, of three [2]catenanes, whereby one of the two bipyridinium units in cyclobis(paraquat-p-phenylene) is replaced by a bipicolinium unit, are described. The crude reaction mixtures comprising the [2]catenanes all contain slightly more of the homologous [3]catenanes, wherein a "dimeric" octacationic cyclophane has the crown ether macrocycles encircling the alternating bipyridinium units with the bipicolinium units completely unfettered. X-ray crystallography, performed on all three [2]catenanes and two of the three [3]catenanes reveals co-conformational and stereochemical preferences that are stark and pronounced. Both the [3]catenanes crystallize as mixtures of diastereoisomers on account of the axial chirality associated with the picolinium units in the solid state. Dynamic (1)H NMR spectroscopy is employed to probe in solution the relative energy barriers for rotations by the phenylene and pyridinium rings in the tetracationic cyclophane component of the [2]catenanes. Where there are co-conformational changes that are stereochemically "allowed", crown ether circumrotation and rocking processes are also investigated for the relative rates of their occurrence. The outcome is one whereby the three [2]catenanes containing BPP34C10, 1/5NPPP36C10, and 1/5DNP38C10 exist as one major enantiomeric pair of diastereoisomers amongst two, four, and eight diastereoisomeric pairs of enantiomers, respectively. The diastereoisomerism is a consequence of the presence of axial chirality together with helical and/or planar chirality in the same interlocked molecule. These [2]catenanes constitute a rich reserve of new stereochemical types that might be tapped for their switching and mechanical properties.     

Capture-ROMP-release: application to the synthesis of amines and alkyl hydrazines

Application of a capture-ROMP-release strategy for the chromatography-free purification of Mitsunobu reaction products is described. Norbornenyl-tagged reagents are utilized for standard solution phase Mitsunobu chemistry. Post-reaction phase-switching is accomplished via in situ ring-opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP) followed by precipitation of the polymer with methanol. Release of the product from the polymer affords amines and alkyl hydrazine derivatives with good yields and purities.     

Etude de la structure K2NiF4 par la méthode des invariants,I. Cas des oxydes A2BO4

The study of the K₂NiF₄ structure by the “method of invariants” leads to the relationship

$\text{0.99615 V}\text{1}\text{3}\text{=β}{}_{\mathrm{B}}\text{+ψ}{}_{\mathrm{A}}\text{2}\text{1}\text{2}$

with V = a²c (β_B and ψ_A are invariant values associated with cations B and A) in compounds with K₂NiF₄ structures. Some values of ψ_A and examples are proposed.     

The synthesis and spectroscopic properties of some but-2-yne tungsten complexes of the type [WIX(CO){Ph2P(CH2)PPh2}(η-MeC2Me)] (X = Cl, Br, I, NO2, NO3, NCS or OH)

Reaction of the cationic complex [WI(CO)(NCMe){Ph₂P(CH₂)PPh₂}(η²-MeC₂ME)][BF₄] with an equimolar amount of MX (MX = NaCl, NaBr, NaI, KNO₂, KNO₃, NaNCS or KOH) in acetone at room temperature gave the neutral complex [WIX(CO){Ph₂P(CH₂)PPh₂}(η²-MeC₂Me)] (1–7) in good yield. Complexes 1–7 have been characterized by elemental analysis (C, H and N), IR and ¹H NMR spectroscopy.     

The PLAC1-homology region of the ZP domain is sufficient for protein polymerisation

Background  

Hundreds of extracellular proteins polymerise into filaments and matrices by using zona pellucida (ZP) domains. ZP domain proteins perform highly diverse functions, ranging from structural to receptorial, and mutations in their genes are responsible for a number of severe human diseases. Recently, PLAC1, Oosp1-3, Papillote and CG16798 proteins were identified that share sequence homology with the N-terminal half of the ZP domain (ZP-N), but not with its C-terminal half (ZP-C). The functional significance of this partial conservation is unknown.     

Synthèse des (±)-loliolide, (±)-actinidiolide, (±)-dihydroactinidiolide et dérivés à partir d'acide homosafranique. Photooxygénation sensibilisée de I'homosafranate de méthyle

We have synthesized (±)-loliolide ( 7 a ), (±)-actinidiolide ( 11 a ), (±)-dihydroactinidiolide ( 16 ), and (±)-isodihydroactinidiolide ( 18 ) through various reaction paths starting from homosafranic acid ( 4 a ). Thus, (±)-actinidiolide has been synthesized for the first time, and this result allows to discard the alternative formula 11 b for that compound [2]. By investigation of the sensitized photooxygenation of methyl homosafranate ( 4 b ), this reaction is shown to lead to an interesting spiro-peroxylactone 25 , beside the expected endo-peroxide 23 . Specific oxygenation of the tetrasubstituted double bond of methyl homosafranate, and cyclisation of the hydroperoxide 24 thus produced, are believed to account for the formation of such a particular compound. The base-catalysed rearrangement of the endo-peroxide 23 gives rise to two compounds, one being the expected keto-hydroxy-ester 26 . The other - to which is assigned the glycidic ester structure 27 - obviously results from an internal displacement reaction on oxygen in 23 . It is note-worthy that the sensitized photooxygenation of methyl homosafranate proceeds directly to the same glycidic ester when it is carried out in an alcaline solution.     

New global constraints on electronic energy hypersurfaces

Improved global energy bounds — valid for the entire electronic energy hypersurfaces of a variety of polyatomic molecular systems — are proposed. The new constraints are applicable to a larger class of molecules and are tighter than the constraints proposed earlier. The new global bounds are easily applicable using readily available energy values of atoms and atom-ions. The actual evaluation of these constraints typically involves only “back-of-the-envelope” calculations, providing both upper and lower bounds for a complete energy hypersurface, even for very large molecules. Such global energy bounds are of some importance in theoretical studies of chemical reactions and conformational changes. The proposed bounds are likely to find some practical applications in computer-based quantum-chemical synthesis planning, using multidimensional potential surfaces.